Big players make big-time plays, and that is exactly what Indian skipper Harmanpreet Singh did for Indian Hockey, helping his side clinch the Bronze after a 2-1 win against Spain at the Paris Olympics on Thursday.
India were trailing 1-0 after the first quarter, in dire need of a breakthrough as Spain dominated all apsects of the game from the get-go.
Harmanpreet stepped up, scoring not one, but two goals for India in consecutivev quarters off penalty corners, to claim the lead and seal the win for his side, replicating their campaign at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where they sealed the Bronze as well.
This marks the first time in 52 years since the Indian Hockey Team won back-to-back medals in consecutive Olympics.
After his medal-winning performance, skipper Harmanpreet Singh expounded on their success, attributing his teammates and stating that it was destiny that determined their outcome today.
“The Olympic stage is something we have to wait a long time for, but our mindset is to come here and play to win. Sometimes the result isn’t in our favor, but it’s destiny. Our dream was gold, and there were high expectations on us. I want to say sorry for not meeting those expectations, but this medal means everything to us. For India, it’s a significant achievement to win back-to-back bronze medals,” said the Indian skipper.
The match holds more significance to one particular individual as well: Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
Sreejesh, who has been a pillar of the Indian team for years on end, announced that this shall be his last international appearance for India.
And for Harmanpreet, it meant all to send off the legendary keeper on a high, as a token of appreciation and respect for the veteran.
“Some of the boys on our team are as young as Sreejesh’s career is long. His journey has been stellar, and it was an emotional moment for us. We are thrilled to have won the bronze medal for the country and for Sreejesh.”
Although their sights may have been set on a Gold, for Harmanpreet, it is the continued success that matters more in the long run, as the sport of Hockey continues to flourish and grow.
“A medal is a medal; whether it’s from Tokyo or Paris, what matters is that we won back-to-back. Hockey in India is growing, and we are grateful to our supporters. Hockey’s history is rich, and we are working to make it even bigger. Next time, we aim to do even better,” stated a humble Harmanpreet.
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